Rose plant

ABSTRACT

The present miniature rose, subject of this disclosure, is primarily characterized by the basically white bud and flower and the unique blending or edging of petals with shades of soft to deep rose pink color.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy,dwarf, bush type rose plant of the miniature class; the variety beingcharacterized -- as to novelty -- by white to near white buds andflowers with a portion of each upper petal surface shaded or overlaidwith soft pink to deep rose pink color.

The variety is further characterized by:

An abundance of bloom with flowers borne singly or several to the stemin loose clusters.

Slight fragrance.

A plant which is vigorous, of rounded upright shape and withmedium-small matt foliage with pointed leaflets; the buds and flowersbeing similar in form and size to Easter Morning (miniature -- U.S.Plant Pat. No. 2,177).

The plant, which has a normal height of 12-14 inches or more, can easilybe maintained at lesser height by occasional trimming.

A plant which grows and blooms satisfactory both in greenhouse andoutdoors; is good for exhibition and as cut flowers.

The present variety of miniature rose was originated by me at my nurserylocated at Dallas, Tex., under conditions of careful control andobservation, as a cross between Little Darling (Floribunda -- U.S. PlantPat. No. 1,581, expired) as the seed parent and Over the Rainbow(miniature -- U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,472) as the pollen parent.

Subsequent to origination of the variety I successfully reproduced it inmy nursery located as aforesaid, by cuttings; the reproductions havingrun true in all respects.

The color photograph illustrates the variety, showing foliage, buds andflowers.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline;all major color plate identifications being by reference to the BritishColour Council Horticultural Colour Chart, except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf; bushy; seedling; greenhouse; outdoors; cut flowers;garden decoration; potted plant.

Class: Miniature. Variety name `CARELESS MOMENT`.

Flowers: Continuity, continuous -- repeat bloom all season. Fragrance,slight.

Quantity of bloom: Free bloom both outside and in greenhouse.

Bud: Peduncle -- medium to long; slender; wirey; erect; medium green,sometimes tinted bronze (outdoors); hairs -- several. Before calyxbreaks, size -- small.

Form: medium long; pointed with few foliaceous appendages and few or nohairs on surfaces of bud; with foliaceous parts extending beyond the tipof the bud equal to one-half or less of its length.

Color: medium green, occasionally tinted with bronze (outdoors).

As calyx breaks.--Color -- near white to greenish white; opens; samegeneral color with upper surface of each petal tinted or tipped withsoft to deeper shades of rose pink.

Size.--Small.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Small, averaging about 35-40 cm (11/2").

Petalage.--Double, averaging about 40-50 petals plus several petaloids,arranged regularly.

Form.--Full; high center at first, becoming more rounded, full; withpetals rolled loosely outward, and later at maturity, rounded, full;with petals rolled loosely outward and downward. Open flowers usuallyshow no stamens.

Petals: Thick; satiny on inside and outside surfaces.

Shape--outside petals.--Broad lanceolate (nearly round) with short acutetip; intermediate petals: broad lanceolate (nearly oval) with roundedtip; inside petals, lanceolate or broad lanceolate with rounded or smallacute tip.

Color: Newly opened flower from a plant grown outdoors (April, 1978),Visalia, Calif.

Outside petal.--Outside surface -- pale greenish at base blending intowhite or near white; inside surface -- similar to outside surface thenblending into shades of pink to rose pink, on petal tips of a shade orshades similar to Fuchsine Pink 627/3 and blending into shades similarto Fuchsine Pink 627/1, and at times almost as deep as Roseine Purple629/2, the depth or shade of color depending upon intensity of sunlight.Color as shown in illustration is at deepest shading, being a deep roseto lavenderish pink. Note: Flowers grown in plastic greenhouse (samedate as flowers described above and shown in color photo) are palegreenish white to white with a slight pink tinting on petal tip (lighterthan flowers grown outdoors) of a shade or shades varying from nearwhite through shades similar to Neyron Rose 623/3 to Fuchsine Pink627/3.

Intermediate petal.--Outside surface -- similar to outside petal. Insidesurface -- similar to outside petal but with less rose colored petalsurface.

Inner petal.--Outside surface -- similar to intermediate petal; insidesurface -- similar to intermediate petal. General color effect newlyopened flowers -- a bi-colored effect with both white and pink areas.Three days open -- color similar to newly opened flower but petal tip onupper surface may have become deeper shade. Behavior -- as flowers agethe inside (upper) surface of petals may tend to deepen color. Spentpetals drop off. Flower longevity (April, 1978) -- plant in pot 10 daysor longer. Cut flowers at living room temperature 5-7 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Few.

Filaments.--Varying length, whiteish, few.

Anthers.--Malformed (if present).

Pollen.--None.

Pistils.--Few.

Styles.--Short, bunched.

Stigma.--Nearly white.

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Hips.--None.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; recurved.

Seed.--None.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Compound of five (sometimes three or seven) leaflets; abundant;medium small; leathery; matt.

Leaflets.--Shape; broad lanceolate, nearly oval; apex acute; baserounded. Margin serrate. Color: medium green; new growth often tintedreddish. Rachis: medium strength; upper side may have a few tiny shorthairs, grooved; underside sparsely thorny with few or no tiny prickles.Stipules: medium long; narrow to medium width, medium length narrowpoints which turn out usually at about 45 degrees or less.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf; bushy; upright; much branched.

Growth.--Vigorous.

Canes.--Medium; slender; sturdy.

Main stems.--Color; medium to deep green. Thorns: relatively few (3 tonone per 10 cm of main stem). Fairly large, nearly straight, inclinedslightly downward; color -- tan or brown. Prickles -- none; hairs --none.

Branches.--Color: medium green. Thorns: few; medium length; slender;nearly straight; inclined slightly downward. Color: tan. Medium to shortoval base. Prickles: none. Hairs: none.

New shoots.--Color: green, often tinted reddish. Thorns: few or none.Prickles -- none; hairs -- none.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present descriptions being of the varietyas grown at Dallas, Tex. and Visalia, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant of hardy, dwarf, bushy, upright, much branched habit,essentially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds andflowers of a basic white or near white color with the upper petalsurfaces shaded, blended or tinted with light to deep pink color ofvarying hue and intensity, ranging from very soft shades of Neyron Roseto deeper shades of rose pink to lavenderish pink, depending uponconditions of culture and intensity of direct sunlight; the form andsize of bud and flower resembling Easter Morning; and furthercharacterized by a plant which is vigorous and relatively compact, saidplant being easy to propagate from cuttings, with medium small, diseaseresistant matt foliage, an abundance of bloom with excellent keepingqualities, with flowers borne singly or several to the stem in looseclusters.